P.O. Box 1314, Richmond, Virginia 23220 www.VirginiaConservationAssociation.org Volume 18 No. 4 — May, 2008 Upcoming Members’ Meeting Thursday, May 15, 2008 Tuckahoe Plantation The final VCA meeting for the 2007-8 season will be cousins of Thomas Jefferson, who also lived there as a held on May 15 at Tuckahoe Plantation, overlooking the child. Tuckahoe is the most complete plantation from the James River on the west side of Richmond. Refreshments early eighteenth century due to the many outbuildings will begin outdoors at 5:30 PM, weather permitting, giving that survive. These include the brick kitchen, plantation members the opportunity to enjoy the outstanding gardens office and schoolhouse. Features which make the house at Tuckahoe. A short business meeting, including the an- unusual include its H-shape plan and outstanding deco- nual election of officers, will begin at 6:30 followed by a rative carving in the north stair hall. In 2003, during tour and discussion of recent restoration and conservation hurricane Isabel, a 100 year old tulip poplar fell, damaging work at the main house. the north facade of the house. Carey Thompson Viego The house at Tuckahoe Plantation was built by the will discuss the restoration including reconstruction and family of Thomas Randolph around 1730. They were conservation.

Directions Creek, past St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on the left, and past The Edible Garden Restaurant on the right. After From Richmond drive west on Interstate 64. Take the passing Blair Road on the right, take a left at the historic Gaskins Road exit heading south. Follow Gaskins to the marker onto a dirt lane marked by two white posts. intersection with River Road and turn right onto River Toward the end of the lane parking will be on the right Road. Continue west on River Road over Tuckahoe hand side. VCA Board Minutes - April 8, 2008

Attendees: Andrew Baxter, Carey Howlett, Nancy Beck, Dotty Robin- Treasurer Report son, Mary Scott Andrews, Diane Frederick Roland, Stacy Rusch, Kathy Dotty reported that we have $5,300 in the bank. She presented our Garrett-Cox current budget: Budgeted 2008 Spent Proposed for 2009 Dotty Robinson brought to the boards attention that we have re- Publications $750 $300 $500 cently received some new memberships and she wondered whether they Directories $150 $105 $150 should be counted towards this year or next year since we only have one Refreshments $600 $150 $600 meeting left. It was decided that since we are going to the fi scal year Website $100 $100 $100 of August 1 – July 31 then we will count any late memberships for this P.O. Box $40 $40 $40 year, and encourage people to join again in the fall. Classes $0 Diane Frederick Roland reported that the nominating committee Speaker $250 $0 $500 is working on the ballot. They would like to get one more nomina- Offi ce supplies $50 $50 $50 tion for the refreshment committee. Diane also brought up that Mary Va. Corp. $25 $25 $25 Scott Andrews term as the Disaster Response coordinator is over and TOTAL: $1965 they will need to nominate someone for that position. Mary asked if Membership: $2000 she could continue with her role with the MEST (Museum Emergency The proposed changes are to cut back on the publications budget Support Team) group that she is on with area museums. It was agreed because we will now primarily be emailing the newsletter. It was also that Mary should continue her role with MEST as that will help with proposed to add more money to the speaker’s fee for a possible class from continuity. Diane reported that they know that the nominating form AIC. The rest of the budget will remain the same. needs to be distributed one month before the meeting. They will ask Patination Workshop Bienvenida to send out an email with the form attached and also put it Andrew has seven signed up for his workshop on Friday, April 11. on the website and in the next newsletter. Kathy Gillis is taking the reservations. Mary Scott Andrews reported that the Museum Emergency Support Team (MEST) has a 1-800 number that will be distributed soon and Promote Membership is operated by VAM. This number will be for museums to call in and Andrew asked that everyone who is on the board talk to people about activate the support team who can go and assist area museums in an the VCA. Personally talking to people seems to be a great way to get emergency. Mary will then activate conservators who have agreed to members. Dotty also suggested that we send out an email to museums assist in an emergency. The VMFA will host a CERT training course with information about the VCA and encourage them to join. sometime this summer or next fall. This training is free and open to VAM Conference the public. The training provides fi rst aid and other training for people Rick Vogt talked to Andrew about a yearly presentation at VAM. He to assist in an emergency. The training is required for anyone who suggested that each year three VCA members submit a special proj- wants to be among fi rst responders in the event of an emergency. More ect for that year. Then either VAM or the VCA will select one to be information will be provided on the training when the dates have been presented. The VCA will pay for one night lodging for the presenter. decided. This would be a way to highlight the work being done and promote The fi eld trip to Ashlawn-Highland is postponed. The fi eld trip was membership in the VCA. We would suggest that this be done every year originally scheduled for May 3rd and will now be Saturday, June 7th. for continuity and name recognition. Mary Scott Andrews will follow Details will follow in the newsletter. Since it is in June and that is up with Margo Carlock at VAM. between boards, should the current refreshment committee coordinate Programs for Next Year this or the new refreshment committee? It was determined that boxed It was proposed that we take a trip to Norfolk to the Chrysler lunches will be ordered for attendees and that Andrew will coordinate Museum, Moses Myers House and Mariners Museum. These will be dis- the lunches. He will also bring beer and wine. cussed as to whether this should be a Saturday trip or if we should hold It was proposed that the board have a July meeting. This will serve a meeting in Norfolk. Other suggestions for meetings or trips were the two purposes: all current board members and new board members will Quartermasters Museum and the U.S. Army Women’s Museum at Ft. be invited to meet and go over their duties and it will give the board a Lee, Branch house, and installation of the 18th century Indian Pavilion jump start on the newsletter that goes out in August. They will then be at the VMFA. able to plan for the September meeting with more time. Let us know if you have suggestion of projects or exhibits that you would like to see next year!

Proposed Budget 2008-2009 Expenses Income Publications $500.00 Dues - Regular $2,000.00 Directory $150.00 Dues - Student Refreshments $600.00 Directory Sales Website $100.00 Gifts P. O. Box $40.00 Field Trips Classes Misc. Late Fees Speaker Expenses $500.00 Classes Misc. (Offi ce) $50.00 Reimbursements Va SCC $25.00 Total $2,000.00 Total $1,965.00

2 VCA Members’ Meeting March 20 - The Capitol Project The exceptionally large attendance at the March 20 meeting of the VCA was evidence of the widespread interest in the Capitol renovation project. Attendees were rewarded with a very full program and intriguing insights. David Voelkel, Curator of the State Art Collec- tion of the Common- wealth of Virginia—in conjunction with The Li- brary of Virginia—hosted the program, leading the group through the newly renovated Capitol and offering tales of the history of the building and its art, as well as anecdotes of the glitches and solutions that accompanied the monumental task of renovating the building and its priceless collections. Throughout the tour, VCA conservators presented stories of their contributions to various aspects of the project. The tour began outside the Capitol at the equestrian monument of George Washington where Andrew Baxter ex- plained the process of returning the sculptures from a green and black cor- roded state to the rich, brown patina intended by the sculptor Thomas Crawford. He continued the story by describing the measures taken to pro- tect the patina and to guard the sculp- tures themselves from damage during the extensive disruption surrounding them during the renovations. Once inside the Capitol, Andrew pointed out the numerous bronze plaques that

had required a delicate treatment to restore the deep brown background and brilliant lettering that contribute to the traditional dignity of the Capitol rooms. He is continuing his work at the Capitol through the cleaning of hundreds of metal nameplates on the period picture frames. Lorraine Brevig presented two paintings treated by the Richmond Con- servation Studio and offering particular challenges. The large Storming of the Redoubt by Lami required a creative solution to an early lead white lining as well as exceptional measures to protect the fragile painting from vibration—not only from ongoing construction, but also from an incon- veniently placed elevator shaft directly behind the painting. Lorraine also explained the iconic portrait by George Catlin of Thomas Jefferson and the studio’s solutions to the large and unsympathetic patches applied by an early restorer as a quick fi x for torn canvas. Bill Ivey led the members through the Chamber and Senate meeting rooms and presented images to illustrate the magnitude of the project to conserve the historic desks and chairs in these rooms—a project made more

3 challenging by careless early restoration and by construction teams focused more on deadlines than on historic preservation. A behind-the-scenes look at what it took to move this volume of furniture from the Capitol for treatment and protection from construction was particularly enlightening. Scott Nolley focused on the extraordinary measure, provided by Artex of Landover, MD, to remove and protect the price- less Capitol sculptures and paintings during the renovation. These measures ranged from removing a second-story window and “fl ying” the large portrait of Thomas Jefferson to safety, to building the equivalent of small climate-controlled houses to protect the large format painting Storming the Redoubt and

the Houdon sculpture of George Washington—both judged too frag- ile to be moved. Creative solutions to crating and moving other historic sculpture were equally intriguing. Susan Adler spoke about the large (21’ x 12’) state fl ag that was fl ying over the Capitol when it fell to the Northern Armies at the end of the Civil War. The fl ag will be displayed in the exhibition center at the new entrance to the Capitol. Susan spoke about the challenges of treating such a large object and of preparing both a mount and case that could be disassembled—to be reassembled and installed quickly under the eye of the public in the exhibition center. As with most things that are well done, the beautiful presentation of the newly reno- vated Capitol shows no sign of the extraor- dinary efforts supplied by a great many people working together to bring it into being. We are grateful to all who participated in the March VCA members meeting for giving us in- sight into what will be a lasting gift to the people of Virginia and all who visit the Capitol.

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Nominees for New Board Members

We will be voting on new members of the Board of Di- rectors for the 2008 – 2010 term at our May 15 meeting at Tuckahoe Plantation. For those unable to attend who wish to vote, a proxy form is included below. The nominees: Vice President Patination Workshop Stacy Rusch Treasurer The patination workshop presented April 11 by Andrew Dotty Robinson Baxter at his studio in Richmond was a successful ses- Refreshment Committee Co-chairs sion involving eight participants. Colonial Williamsburg, Leigh Acosta Chrysler Museum, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts were Patricia Selinger represented as well as conservators in private practice. Mary Studt Programs Co-chair Valinda Carroll Disaster Response Beth Fulton Education Dianne Roland Membership Co-chair Melba Myers Bylaws Traci Flores Z ABSENTEE BALLOT To vote, please place an X on the line to the left of the nominee. Choose one name for each offi ce, except Refreshment Co-chairs, where you should vote for three. Vice President (2008-2010 Term) Education ___ Stacy Rusch ____Dianne Roland Treasurer (2008-2010 Term) Membership Co-chair ___ Dotty Robinson ____Melba Myers Refreshment Committee Co-chairs Bylaws ____Leigh Acosta ____Traci Flores ____Patricia Selinger ____Mary Studt Please mail this ballot to Lorraine Brevig Programs Co-chair 4302 Smithdeal Ave. ____Valinda Carroll Richmond, VA 23225 Disaster Response Proxy Form must be postmarked by May 10th. ____Beth Fulton 5 June Field Trip The V.C.A. will be taking a fi eld trip on June 7 to Ash gardens, the house, the exhibit, and a glass of wine with Lawn Highland, the home of President James Monroe. Ash your colleagues. Lawn Highland is commemorating the 250th anniversary When: June 7, 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., or stay longer if of Monroe’s birth this year. you wish – open until 6:00. There is a special exhibit Cost: $10 for lunch, which of late 18th and early 19th will be delivered by a local century clothing and textiles eatery, other libations will currently on view, “Dressed be provided. for the Occasion.” Directions: from I-64, take Noted private collector exit 121 onto rt. 20 South. and researcher Mary Doer- Turn left onto Rt. 53 at the ing, together with Colleen light. Go about 4 ½ miles to Callahan, a Richmond-based Ash Lawn Highland (follow textile and clothing conserva- signs and keep to the right). tor and her team collaborated The driveway is on the on the exhibit. Please join us for a fun and interesting right. The address is 1000 James Monroe Parkway. social outing at Ash Lawn Highland, to enjoy the beautiful Their website is www.ashlawnhighland.org.

From the Membership Chair Photo Credits Please contact Bienvenida Ochs if your contact informa- Tuckahoe photo courtesy Tuckahoe Plantation tion changes or if it is incorrect in the VCA directory. Her Capitol meeting photos by John Watson e-mail address is [email protected] and her phone number is Patination workshop photos by Talitha Daddona (upper), and An- (804) 644-5311. drew Baxter (lower).

VCA P.O. Box 4314 Richmond, VA 23220

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